Typewriting-machine support



. L. ROSSITER, JR

TYPEWRITING MACHINE YSUPPORT Filed March 8, 1922 Patented Dec. 23, i924.

'f rara rarer CLINTON L. RO'SSITER, JR., DE BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO UNDERWOOD TYPEWRITEB GOMPANY, OF NEW YER-K, N. Y., A CORLFORATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPElRITING-MACHINE SUPFORT.

Application filed March 8, 1922v Serial No. 541,922.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CLINTON L. Rossrrnn, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing in Brooklyn Borough, in the county of Kings, city and State of N ew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Typewriting-Machine Supports, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to means for holding a typewriting machine, more particularly a machine oit' the so-called portable class, for operation thereof on the lap of the operator.

In some instances, as in the Army, where often no table can be procured, the use of a portable typewriter is difficult.

To overcome this ditliculty, there is devised a lap-board to which the portable typewriter is secured, and at the same time there are overcome dithculties due to the jerky movements of the typewriter carriage.l This carriage is started and stopped at each type-impression, and jars the keys, which are independently movable and vwhich are easily jarred, tiring and injuring the eyes of the user. This difficulty is overcome by anchoring the machine to the legs of the user, vso that he can hold vthe machine rigidly. The anchorage overcomes the tendency of the typewriter to erk or creep to the lett duc to the sidewisc step-by-step movements of the carriage. It alsovovercomes the tendency of the typewriter and lapboard to jerk or creep to the right. As a part of the anchorage for thi'spurpose, there is employed astrap upon which the typewriter and lap-board hang, circling the trunk of the user and being adjustable to secure the positioning of the keyboard relatively to the hands of the user. The weight of the typewriter and lap-board tend to cause it to slide away from the body, this tendency being resisted due to the hanging of the typewriter and lap-board upon the strap. Thus the typewriter is anchored against jerking movement to the left and to the right, and also against movement away from the trunk, while the weight of the typewriter and board prevents movement towards the trunk oit' the user. While the leg clasps act to prevent sidewise creeping or jerking in both directions by reason of the carriage movements, still a typewriting machine is a very live the strap en-` subject, and constantly tends to creep whereever it can, and that, owing to its inclined position, it will creep and slide downwardly away from the user, notwithstanding the leg clasps, and hence the anchorage for the machine includes the trunk straps which prevent such creeping.

rThe anchorages comprise detachable devices which are self-locking in slotted plates provided upon the edge portions of the lapboard, so that when the anchorages are removed from the locking slots, the cover of the portable typewriter may be set down upon the machine and lit closely over the edges of the lap-board, to which it is secured in the usual manner, the cover having the usual handle so that the whole device is similar to a satchel.

Other `features of the invention are the provision of holding devices, of the character mentioned, adjustable laterally to the position' and lines of the thighs oi' the operator; and of holding devices adjustable to permit the machine to be held at such distance from the operators trunk as may be most suitable for writing.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of readily attachable and detachable connections for the holding devices, so that the machine may be expeditiously and in al simple manner placed or removed by the operator; and in this connection the invention, in the preferred'embodiment thereot, comprises means whereby the weight o'l the machine, due to the natural tendency ot the machine to slide forward,serves to maintain the correct operating position, and to maintain the holding connections in locked condition.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of holding devices capable of being placed wit-h the machine in the usual casing, and of means for securing the holding devices in place in the casing, with the machine, when the machine is not in use.

Figure l is a view, in side elevation, showing the typewriting machine held in place on the lap of the operator.

Figure 2 is a view looking toward the operator at the machine` and showing the lateral retaining devices. f

Figure 3 is a view, in cross-sectional slde elevation, through the casing, the machine being diagrammatically Shown therein and the lateral retaining devices being shown in the position in Which they are carried when not in use.

Figure 4 is a view in cross-section on the line l-e of F igure 3.

Figure 5 is a top plan vienT of a piece of the baseboard, and of the connections of the holdingdevices thereto; the boa d being shown partly in cross-section for clear illustration of certain details of the connections.

Figure 6 is a View in cross-section on the line 6--6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a view, in side elevation, of the assembly shown in Figure 5.

In Figures 1 and 2 a portable typewriting machine 10, having1 the usual letter-feeding carriage 10u is shown as secured to the operator 11 by a strap' 2, passing around the Waist of the operator to prevent the machine from sliding forward, and by sheet-metal arms 13 which, by engagement with the sides of the operators legs, prevent lateral displacement of the machine.Y 'lhese holding devices and the means bv Whichthey are connected to the machine or its support are as follows:

The machine shown is mounted upon and fixed to a bas-eboard 14. fis shown in Figure 6, the baseboard 14 has a peripheral flange 15 in Which the machine is held. Set in countersinks in the bottom and sides of the baseboard, and secured thereto by screws 16, one at each side of the baseboard, are angle-pieces or brackets 17, one Wing 13 of each of Which brackets is set in the bottom of the baseboard` and the other Wing 19 of each of Which bra-cote is set in the side of the baseboard. The outside faces of the brackets are preferably flush Vith the faces of the baseboard into which they are set. The brackets are in opposite sides of the baseboard, and are about centrally thereof, indicated in Figure 1.

ln the horizontal under Wing 18 of each bracket is a slot 2O extending in a direction transverse to the baseboard. ribove the bracket-Wing and over the slot 20 is a recess 21 in the basehoard. The recess 21, shown in Figure 5, is Wider than the slot 2O to accommodate the head 22 of the arm or retaining device 13 on that side of the baseboard. The head 22 (see Figures 6 and Y) is shown at the end of a neck-portion 24e of the retaining device, formed by lateral cuts 25. The retaining devices 13 are curved to partially embrace the outside of the thighs of the operator, and the portions comprising the necks 24 and heads 22 are offset, as shown in Figure 6, to project vertically into the baseboard When in use. The sots 2O are of such length that. when the retaining devices are turned ninety degrees from 'their Figure 6 position, the heads 22 thereof may be passed through the slots 2O and into the recesses 21; and are Wide enough to accommodate the necks 2 of the retaining devi/exs to permit the latter to be turned to their T" U .11' f. Y ,1 V f "v1 .a 't Figure 6 holding position. lhe width o;

movement therealong of the neck or pin il of the button 29, but is too narrow to permit the button to be disengaged from bracket, except by movement of the but into registration with the enlarged open 28. rllhe recess 26 behind the slot 2i' is or Width to accommodate and permit moveinen therealongl of the button 29. The strap 3l.) on the lett-hand side of the basehoard (see Figure 1) is a short strap carrying` a buckle 32. The strap connecting with the righthand side of the baseboard is the strap l2 which embraces the operators Waist. '.lhe strap 12 is adjustably connected to the sirap 30, and, for this purpose, the strap 12 has eyes or holes 33 therealong, near one end thereof, after the fashion of the usual belt, for adjustable connection to the buckle on the strap 30. rlhis adjustment permits the machine to be set on the operators knees in Whatever position is most convenient. Ordinarily, the slightly inclined natural position of the les/:s will cause the machine to slide outward from the operator as far as the strap 12 permits; and the position so sinned by the machine, due to its Weight, n remain fixed by reason of the strap.

For holding the machine against late slip, the operatofs knees are spread, as i, dicated in Figure 2, to bear firmly against the side retaining devices 13. Freferably, the arms 13 have spring action to aiconimodate themselves to the shape and pos tion of the operatoi"s legs; and, to the sane end, the devices 13 may have a limited pivotal movement Where the necks thereof engage the slots 20 in the brackets.

To remove the arms 13, is simply necessary to turn the saine at right angles to the Figure 6 position, and slide the saVm along the slots 2O until the heads 22 the.. of may be Withdrawn through the slots. rlo disconnect the straps 12 and 30, the machine is drawn toward the operator un til the buttons 29 register with the openm ings 28 in the side Wings of the brackets. whereupon the buttons are drawn outward through the openings 28.

For holding the retaining devices 13 in U ll lli

the casing with the machine when the latter is not in use, a clip 34:, preferably of spring sheet-metal, is riveted or otherwise secured at to the under side of the top of the casing-cover 36, having the usual handle 36a. Un either side of the attachment 35 the arms of the clip 34 are slightly offset at 37 to permit the ends of the retaining devices 13 to be slipped between the same and the top of the cover, so as to be held to the latter by the spring action of the arms of the clip.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, l claim:

l. A new article of manufacture comprising a lap board for holding a typewriting machine stationarily on the lap of the typist, said board having means around its periphery engaging the sides of the typewriting machine base to center the typenf'riting machine thereon, and prevent its sliding on the surface of the board while being used, said board also having devices thereon for attachment of anchors, anchors comprising clasps attachable to the devices and extending below the bottom of said board and adapted to rest on the sides of the legs of the typist and a belt for anchoring the board to the trunk of the typist and attachable to said devices on the board.

2. A new article of manufacture comprising a lap board for holding a typewriting machine stationarily on the lap of the typist, said board having around its periphery a flange for engaging the sides of the base of the typewriting machine to center the machine thereon and prevent sliding on the surface of the board while being used, anchorage means for steadying the board and typewriter and preventing creeping movement of the board in either Sidewise direction and enabling the weight of the typewriting machine to steady the keyboard and locate it relatively to the hands of the user, said anchorage means comprising clasps detachably mounted upon the bottom of the lap board and anchoring it to the legs of the user, and also comprising an adjustable belt detachably connected to the side edges of the lap board and anchoring it to the trunk of the user.

3. A new article of manufacture comprising a lap board for holding a typewriting machine stationarily on the lap of the typist, said board having' means around its periphery for engaging the sides of the typewriter base and havingl anchorage means for steadying it and preventing creeping movements of the board in either sidewise direction and enabling the weight of the machine to steady the key board and locate it relatively to the hands of the user, said anchorage means comprising clasps detachably mounted upon the bottom of the lap board and anchoring it to the legs of the user and also comprising an adjustable belt detachably connected to the side edges of the lap board and anchoring it to the trunk of the user, said lap board having two surface plates, one secured to each of its side edge portions, said plates provided with two sets of slots, said clasp being removably self-locking in one set of said slots and said belt having ends which are removably self-locking in the other set of said slots.

il. A new article of manufacture comprising a lap board for holding a typewriter machine stationarily on the lap of the typist, anchorage means steadying the board and preventing creeping movements of the board in either sidewise direction, said anchorage means comprising clasps detachably mounted upon the bottom of the lap board and anchoring it to the legs of the user and also comprising a belt detachably connected to the side edges of the lap board and anchoring it to the trunk of the user, said lap board having two surface plates, one Secured to each of its side edge portions, said plates provided with two sets of slots, said clasp being removably self-locking in one set of said slots and said belt having ends which are removably self locking in the other set of said slots, said plates being angle plates comprising wings covering recesses formed in the bottom and the side edges of said board, the side wings having the slots for said belt ends and the bottom wings having the slots for said clasps.

5. A new article of manufacture comprising a lap board for holding a typewriting machine stationarily on the lap of the typist, said board having means around its periphery for engaging the sides of the base of the typewriting machine to center the typewriting machine thereon, anchorage means for steadying the board and prevent creeping movement of the board in either sidewise direction, said anchorage means comprising clasps for anchoring the lap board to the legs of the user, said lap board having surface plates secured to its side edge portions, the plates being provided with slots and the clasps being removably selflocking in said slots, a belt for passing around the trunk of the typist and attachable at either end to said plates, and a cover fitting around the edges of the lap board and removably attached thereto to form a satchel.

CLINTON L. ROSSITER, JR.

Witnesses:

CATHERINE A. NEwnLL, JENNIE P. THORNE. 

